Two of the outdoor industry’s leaders in mapping and navigation, Magellan and National Geographic, today announced an alliance that will make National Geographic’s award-winning, full-color topography maps fully compatible with handheld GPS receivers for the first time. Beginning this fall, Magellan will become the first GPS manufacturer to offer full, onscreen compatibility, usage and display of National Geographic’s maps. Magellan’s new Triton series of handheld GPS devices were developed to work seamlessly with both Magellan’s own and National Geographic’s proprietary topographic maps, which are sold separately by National Geographic.
The Triton series, available in stores beginning in September, is the first line of rugged, outdoor handheld GPS devices designed with a new user interface flow and screen graphics that make handheld GPS more accessible to a greater population of outdoor enthusiasts. The full-featured Triton units offer full-color, touch-screen controls and the ability to record and attach audio to waypoint files. Other features unique to Triton include a built-in 2MB pixel camera, speaker and microphone to record audio notes, electric compass, barometer and built-in LED flashlight.
Popular National Geographic titles that will run on Triton handhelds include all 28 titles of its TOPO! outdoor recreation mapping software (covering all 50 states), featuring highly detailed and enhanced USGS quad maps; and the 21 titles in its new Weekend Explorer 3D software series, with highly detailed maps of recreational regions near metropolitan areas.
“Prior to this partnership, handheld GPS users could only download National Geographic’s waypoints and routes to their devices, but not the actual maps. The partnership between Magellan and National Geographic will enable hikers and backpackers, fishermen and hunters, campers, and other outdoor enthusiasts to have a richer experience with National Geographic’s software when used with Magellan Triton units,” said Stig Pedersen, senior director of marketing for Magellan.
“National Geographic Maps is delighted to work with Magellan to bring our topographic maps to life with the new series of Triton handhelds,” said Fran Marshall, president of National Geographic Maps. “For the first time, National Geographic maps can be accurately displayed in full-color on a GPS device.”
National Geographic mapping software is available at such retailers as REI, Sportsman’s Warehouse, EMS, Gander Mountain, Joe’s, Bass Pro Shops, L. L. Bean, Sport Chalet, as well as other fine outdoor retailers, and also at http://www.nationalgeographic.com. Magellan receivers that will support the National Geographic software are the Triton 300, 400, 500, 1500 and 2000 units, available in September 2007.
